Sewing machine cabinet

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine cabinet adapted for use with free arm type sewing machines having a sewing machine support platform including a recessed lower support surface. The cabinet includes a front rail pivotable 180 degrees between a flat bed position in which the top surface of the rail is coextensive with the top of the cabinet and a second position in which the bottom surface of the rail is coextensive with the lower work support surface. A pair of brackets are secured to opposite sides of the bottom surface of the rail and are journaled on studs supported on brackets on opposite sides of the cabinet. A spring biased plunger device is provided on at least one side for locking the rail in either the flat bed or cylinder bed position.

[ 1 Mar. 19, 1974 United States Patent [191 Peets Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marshall J. Breen; Chester I A. Williams, Jr.; Alan Ruderman Inventor: Robert S. Peels, Watchung,

[73] Assignee:

The Singer Company, New York, NY.

ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 A sewing machine cabinet adapted for use with free arm type sewing machines having asewing machine [21] Appl. No.: 351,667

support platform including a recessed lower support surface. The cabinet includes a front rail pivotable 180 degrees between a flat bed position in which the top surface of the rail is coextensive with the top of the cabinet and a second position in which the bottom surface of the rail is coextensive with the lower work 1H n 8 2. 5 1 2 10 .D m 7 n2 m" ..1 ml in c "Hr "a .e ms .1 f 0 C S M U.mF 1]] 2 8 555 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS support surface. A pair of brackets are secured to opposite sides of the bottom surface of the rail and are 2.103.091 Robert.......................... 112/260 X 2247380 7/1941 Hohmann ournaled on studs supported on brackets on opposite FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS sldes of the cabinet. A spring biased plunger device 15 provided on at least one side for locking the rail in either the flat bed or cylinder bed position.

824,291 Germany 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SEWING MACHINE CABINET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sewing machine cabinets, and more particularly to a cabinet capable of providing one level sewing in conjunction with a free arm typesewing machine in both a flat bed and cylinder bed mode of operation of the machine.

Sewing. machines adapted for use in both a flatbed mode of operation adapted to support fiat work panels and a cylinder bed mode of operation adapted to ac commodate tubular work pieces have the obvious advantage of flexibility not found in a machine capable of sewing in only one of these modes. This type of sewing machine has generally been used by supporting it on a table, which may be convenient for tubular bed mode of operation, but requires a special bed extension when used in the flat bed mode. Beds of this type are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,188,993 and 3,344,762. However, even with the special bed extensions the work support surface of the sewingmachine in the flat bed mode is of necessity a limited area, and it is inconvenient when so used. The problem with prior art cabinets for mounting sewing machines convertible between the flat bed and cylinder bed modes is that in order to convert the that a sewer is most confortable when the bed of the machine is located at a certain distance above the floor or above the level of the chair in which the operator sits. In the prior art designs, a cabinet in which the ma chine sat at this most convenient position during one of the modes compromised the convenience in the other mode. Thus, the prior art cabinets do not meet the optimum condition of sewing during both modes of operation of the machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these deficiencies of the prior art by providing a cabinet in which the sewing machine does not move when converting from flat bed to cylinder mode of operation. 0n the contrary, the present invention provides a cabinet in which the sewing machine rests on a support platform which is fixed during both the cylinder bed and flatbed mode of operation of the machine. The cabinet of the present invention has a pivotably mounted front rail pivotable from a first position in which the normally top surface of the rail is coextensive with the top of the cabinet and in conjunction with an insert provides the work surface during the flat bed mode of operation, and a second position in which the normally bottom surface of the rail is coextensive with a lower work support surface formed on the sewing machine support platform to provide a cylinder bed work surface.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide, in a sewing machine cabinet, a novel and improved construction for converting a cabinet for use with a cylinder bed machine in both a cylinder bed and a flat bed mode of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a sewing machine cabinet a front rail positioned between opposite sides of the cabinet and pivotably mounted to provide a work surface extension during both a flat bed and cylinder bed of operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a sewing machine cabinet of a front rail having first and second planar surfaces and pivotable from a first position where the first planar surface is coextensive with the top surface of the cabinet and a sewing machine mounted therein, and a second position disposed degrees relative to the first position and where the second planar surface is coextensive with a lower work support surface formed on a sewing machine support platform mounted within the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The particular features and advantages of this invention, as well as other objects, will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the cabinet in theflat bed mode, illustrating a portion of a free arm or cylinder bed sewing machine mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 but in the cylinder bed or free end mode; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken through the bracket on the right side of the cabinet, illustrated in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of a cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention and designated gener ally as numeral 10. The cabinet comprises a frame including a pair of opposite sides 12 and 14 secured to a rear panel (not shown). A pair of vertical posts 16 and 18 are conventionally secured to the inner walls of the sides and support a horizontal bar 20 to provide rigidity to the frame. Conventionally mounted on the tops of the sides and the rear panel is a top 22 having a cutout portion or opening 24 defined between side margins 26 and 28 and rear margin 30 of the top. A top flap 32 (only a portion of which is illustrated) may be pivotably mounted by conventional hinges 34 to the top 22 to provide an extended work surface during sewing and to i provide an aesthetic cover for the cabinet when not in use for sewing. Likewise, a front door 36 may be provided which can be pivoted by a hinge 38 to one of the sides 12 to close the front of the cabinet during nonuse and to provide legroom within the cabinet for an operator during sewing.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the cabinet includes a platform 40 having a sewing machine support surface 42 adapted to support feet 44 of a sewing machine 46. The sewing machine may be a conventional free arm type machine having a bed 48 from whence a free arm 50 extends to one side. A sewing machine work surface 49 is formed on the top surface of the bed 48 and the arm 50. Mounted within the free arm is a loop taker mechanism (not shown) which cooperates with the needle (also, not shown) in a conventional manner. Inasmuch as the sewing machine is conventional, only those elements required for a clear understanding of the present invention are illustrated. The bed 48 is secured to the platform 40 by a conventional J-bolt (not shown) and rests on the platform on a plurality of legs 52 to which the feet 44 are secured. The platform 40 is provided with a work support surface 54 effective during cylinder bed or free arm operation and which may be recessed as illustrated, for purposes which will hereinafter become clear.

Positioned between the sides 12 and 14 of the cabinet is a front rail 58 having a normally top or first planar surface 60 (illustrated in FIG. 1) in a normally bottom or second planar surface 62 (illustrated in FIG. 2). Secured to the second surface 62 adjacent side is one leg 64 of a substantially L-shaped bracket 66. As best seen in FIG. 3,. the other leg 68 of each bracket 66 includes a hole 70. Secured 'to the inside wall of each side 12 and 14 is a second bracket 72 which includes three substantially vertical holes 74, 76, and 78. Mounted within the center hole 76 is a stud 80 which extends through the hole 70 in the bracket 66. The hole 70 is slightly larger in diameter than that of the stud so that the brackets 66 are pivotably journaled on the studs. Each stud has heads 82 and 84 on the ends thereof to secure the brackets 66 and 72 together while allowing for relative turning.

The location of the axis of each stud 80 is such that the first surface of the rail 58 is coextensive with the surfaces of the top margins 26, 28 and 30, and in conjunction with a substantially U-shaped insert 86 fitted about the free arm 50, provides a large substantially continuous work surface for flat bed sewing. To obtain cylinder bed or free arm sewing the rail is pivoted 180 degrees about journals provided on the stud 80 and the brackets to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the second surface 62 of the rail 58 forms a work surface extension of the surface 54 so that cylindrical work surfaces may be easily handled. Since one cabinet style will preferably be utilized with more than one model of the free arm sewing machines, and since the bed heights of different machines generally vary, interchangeable support platforms may be employed. In such case, the work support surface 54 may be recessed different amounts relative to the support portion 42, so that the rail surfaces 60 and 62 will be coextensive with the respective sewing machine work surface 49 and platform support surface 54.

In order to lock the rail in either the flat bed position of FIG. 1 or the free arm position of FIG. 2, at least one of the brackets 66 preferably includes a hollow boss 88 having a hole 90 formed in its outer surface 92, and an enlarged hole 94 formed in the bracket aligned with the hole 90. The holes 90 and 94 are radially spaced from the center of the stud 80 a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the holes 76 and each of the holes 74 and 78 of the bracket 72, so that the holes 90 and 94 may be selectively'aligned with either of the holes 74 and 78. Positioned within the boss 88 is a rod 96 about which is positioned a coil spring 98. A peg 100, of smaller diameter than the hole 94 but larger than holes 74 and 78 is secured to the inner rod 96. The rod 96 extends out the surface 92 of the boss and has a knob 102 secured thereto. To lock the rail 58 in either the flat bed or free arm position the peg 100 is positioned within a respective one of the holes 74 or 78. To release the rail for pivoting the same to the other position the knob 102 is pulled outwardly away from the bracket until the peg 100 is withdrawn from one of the holes, and when the rail is thereafter positioned in the other position the knob is released and the peg locks into the other locking hole.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. In a sewing machine cabinet, a frame including a top having an opening, and a pair of opposite sides supporting said top, a sewing machine support platform including a lower work support surface mounted within the opening below the surface of the top, a front rail having first and second planar surfaces positioned between said opposed sides, means for pivotably mounting said front rail to each of said sides for pivoting said rail from a first position where the first planar surface is coextensive with said top surface and a second position where the second planar surface is coextensive with said lower work support surface, and means for selectively locking said rail in each of said first and second positions.

2. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotably mounting said front rail comprises a bracket secured to the rail adjacent each side, a pair of studs, means for securing a stud to each of said opposite sides, and means for journaling each bracket on a respective stud.

3. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said brackets is substantially L-shaped having one leg secured to the second planar surface of said rail, the other leg of each bracket including an aperture journaled on a respective stud.

4. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said second position of the rail is disposed at relative to the first position.

5. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 4 wherein said sewing machine support platform includes a sewing machine support portion, said lower work support surface being recessed relative to said support portion. 

1. In a sewing machine cabinet, a frame including a top having an opening, and a pair of opposite sides supporting said top, a sewing machine support platform including a lower work support surface mounted within the opening below the surface of the top, a front rail having first and second planar surfaces positioned between said opposed sides, means for pivotably mounting said front rail to each of said sides for pivoting said rail from a first position where the first planar surface is coextensive with said top surface and a second position where the second planar surface is coextensive with said lower work support surface, and means for selectively locking said rail in each of said first and second positions.
 2. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotably mounting said front rail comprises a bracket secured to the rail adjacent each side, a pair of studs, means for securing a stud to each of said opposite sides, and means for journaling each bracket on a respective stud.
 3. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said brackets is substantially L-shaped having one leg secured to the second planar surface of said rail, the other leg of each bracket including an aperture journaled on a respective stud.
 4. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said second position of the rail is disposed at 180* relative to the first position.
 5. In a sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 4 wherein said sewing machine support platform includes a sewing machine support portion, said lower work support surface being recessed relative to said support portion. 